The kibbutzes in Israel have always been renowned as a system where everything is evenly shared. However, with the news that Israel’s oldest Kibbutz has agreed to essentially privatise itself and start paying people according to ability, it seems that the reach of capitalism and the market system is now almost total. What alternative systems are left to organise and allocate resources? With most forms of socialist organisation more or less discredited as an efficient way of allocating resources, it seems that globalised capitalism is all that is left. However, in the article from the Guardian below Timothy Garton Ash argues that capitalism may, by its very nature destroy itself.
Global capitalism now has no serious rivals. But it could destroy itself Guardian (22/2/07)
Israel’s oldest Kibbutz votes for privatisation Guardian (20/2/07)
Questions
| 1. | Describe the changes that have taken place in the system used to allocate resources in the Degania kibbutz. |
| 2. | Assess the reasons why the Degania kibbutz has decided to pay members according to ability. |
| 3. | Discuss the validity of Timothy Garton Ash’s argument that global capitalism is in danger of destroying itself. |